Telehealth Mental Care: Advantages, Confidentiality Concerns, and Potential Challenges
In the wake of the global pandemic, the use of telemental health services has seen a significant surge. Defined as the delivery of mental health services via telecommunications or videoconferencing technology, telemental health has become an essential tool for addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to recent data, usage of telemental health services increased by 10 to 20 percent between January and December 2020. This trend is set to continue, with more than half of patients (57 percent) preferring telehealth for regular mental health visits, according to a J.D. Power survey.
To ensure the security and privacy of sensitive mental health information, it's crucial to implement robust security measures. Permanent policy changes now allow reimbursements for telemental and telebehavioral healthcare, incentivizing providers to invest in the necessary technologies and security measures.
Key recommendations for implementing a secure telemental health program include using end-to-end encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), conducting regular security audits, enforcing secure data storage, providing comprehensive training and awareness programs, tightening access controls, maintaining robust audit logs, obtaining informed consent, preparing incident response and backup plans, and working with an office administrative staff, including IT, to ensure adequate bandwidth and connectivity.
Telebehavioral healthcare, a subgroup of telemental health, focuses on observing behaviour online. This innovative approach enables clinicians to reach more patients, including those living in rural areas, working irregular hours, and homebound patients.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommend using HIPAA-compliant video platforms for telemental health services. A secure internet connection and a video communication tool are basic technologies needed for telemental health services. However, digital literacy is a key component for implementing a solid telemental health program, with training needed for clinicians to understand how to use the technology to manage patient data.
More than two-thirds of mental health facilities offer telehealth services, and it's important to educate patients about the technology in advance of a telehealth visit to help prevent cancellations or missed appointments. Nearly 60 percent of adults reported they were open to using telemental health services, and 43 percent said they would continue using those services after the pandemic ended, according to a 2021 American Psychiatric Association survey.
Professor Kate Chard of the University of Cincinnati and Professor Shannon Houser of the University of Alabama at Birmingham are among the many experts advocating for the adoption of telemental health services. By adopting a multi-layered security strategy combining technical safeguards, administrative policies, user training, and legal compliance, telemental health programs can effectively protect sensitive mental health information and strengthen patient trust.
References: [1] HIPAA Journal (2021). Best Practices for Securing Telehealth Services. [online] Available at: https://www.hipaajournal.com/best-practices-for-securing-telehealth-services/ [2] HealthIT.gov (2021). Telehealth during COVID-19: Best practices for privacy and security. [online] Available at: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/telehealth/telehealth-during-covid-19-best-practices-privacy-and-security [3] American Psychological Association (2021). Telepsychology: Telehealth Best Practices in Psychology. [online] Available at: https://www.apa.org/practice/guidelines/telepsychology [4] J.D. Power (2021). 2021 U.S. Telehealth Satisfaction Study. [online] Available at: https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-telehealth-satisfaction-study [5] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (2021). Telehealth during COVID-19. [online] Available at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/telehealth-during-covid-19.pdf
Telehealth services, including telemental health and telebehavioral healthcare, have seen a significant increase in usage, especially in the field of mental health. To safeguard sensitive mental health information, it's essential to adopt a multi-layered security strategy, including end-to-end encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), secure data storage, and digital literacy training for clinicians.
